The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-27
THE AMERICAN EXHIBITION

1t Is Likely to Prove Success In Spite of
the Opposition of Minister Phelps.
London Letter in Philadelphia Press.
The American Exhibition and Buffalo Bills
Wild West attachment have fairly taken Lon
don by storm. 1t is great pity that more inter
est and patriotism were not displayed in this
matter on the other side. The exhibits the
first day were not good they ought to be.
but ali things taken into consideration the result
has been highly creGitabe to the management.
Upon the whole / believe the American EXhibi-
ton will prove success financially and other
WISE 1t should have been immense success.
And would nave been il the proper American
spirit had been shown in response to the appll-
cation for aid in the way of exhibits Then the
snobbery OF Mr.. Phelps, who represents the
United States here carried to excess
in making public announcement in
the leading journals here that the government
had nothing to do with the exhibition. etc. The
inference as a leading English journalist re-
marked to me Monday was that the exhibit
ton was trying to sail under false colors. The
exhibition is private enterprise, money max
ing speculation, IT you please. But til an Amer
lean enterprise and hence Americans should
have all helped to make it successful.
Instead of that the little influence which the
legation in London possesses has been thrown
against the exhibition. The words ''private
terprise" have been made sound though
they had some terrible hidden meaning, while
the people who could enter into private
terprise" have been held up objects of sus-
picon. In spite of the feeble efforts of the
toades in the legation to belittle the exhibition
and its managers, successful start has been
made.
Royalty has made it fashionable The Queen
and Prince of Wales in patropizlng this Amer
lean show have gwen it British boom These
visits of the royal family III England mean SO
much money. Now that the Queen has stamped
the American exhibition and Mr. Cody's moral
Indian side-show with approval, every British
matron, decorated with her numerous progeny,
will forthwith attend. OF course the action of
the Queen and Prince has been a great disap-
pointment to Mr. Phelps Having snubbed the
exhibition as he did Mr. Allen Thorndike Rice,
Mr.. Phelps is chagrined to discover that the
Queen does not regard him the censor of her
American entertainments any more than the
Prince of Wales did of his American associates.
Meanwhile, the managers of the exhibition
shrewd enough to extract all the adver-
tioing milk out of the royal cocoanut.
The American show has certainly been ushered
advertising. It it doubtful if one person in ten
thousand here would know who Mr.. Phelps was.
even II his precious name had figured with those
of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, Mr. Glad
stone, Cardinal Manning. and the thousand
other notable personages who have visited the
great American display at Brompton.
But enough of Phelps.
The opening of the exhibition was success.
The details have already reached the Press by
cable The admission was S.. and yet ten thou
rsand persons attended. After the lunch and
ceremonies. which lasted until nearly o'clock
was obliged to return to the city, and or my way
home had fine opportunity to view the miles
and miles of carriages which lined each side of
the adjacent streets. The stars and stripes
were flying in many directions the
Brompton road and from numerous win
dows in the SIDE streets adjoining the
exhibition grounds. Hereafter I hope to give
the readers of the Press some idea of the ex-
hibts, but that hardly be done until next
week, when everything will be completed. I
have not the pleasure of knowing any of the
promoters of this enterprise personally, and
hence am not capable of giving an unprejudiced
opinion. Had the proper support been given the
United States would have had an exhibition III
London this year second to none. AS it is, by
most mauful struggle on the part of the direct
Tod hU h0 Mt IF
Townshend Percy. the agent. they have
got together fairly creditable exhibit of Yankee
industries. That is what they have done. and
everyone with modicum of American spirit
ought to wish them success.